Distance: 3.800 km
Nr of days: 16 days
Year: 2018

Kirghizistan: for those who love nature, dirt roads and big hearts!


In this journey, the difference is a great spirit of adaptation, a good resistance to manage many hours in motion and some mechanical skills.
We left Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan towards the Song-kul lake.
After about 300 km we reached there, welcomed by a tribe of curious children. Dinner and night in the Yurts, the traditional nomadic shepherds tent.

On the second day we dedicate to ride the whole perimeter of the lake, visiting the families of shepherds we find along the way, offering us fermented milk and friendly glances. We realized how little is enough to live with a smile.
The road is totally unpaved, better if it does not rain, otherwise the mud would make the ride more difficult and above all there is no shelter for all 92 km.

 

Between hairpin bends and canyons:

It is time to set off on the discovery of winding white roads through canyons and fords.
For 3 days we crossed mountain passes oeach time observing different landscapes 810 km of photographs to shoot at altitudes of 3500 meters on average. Finally the sixth day we are ready to cross the border with Tajikistan: today is the kingdom of colors!!! The yellow Osh plain gives way to an orange canyon along the Gulcha river, it seems to ride along the roads of America, excellent asphalt, wide carriageways ... then you climb over 4000 meters until you reach the border. Before the customs, a long valley that points to the snowy peaks of 7000mt, runs on asphalt full of potholes, up to the Karakul lake.

Real Tajikistan:

Tajikistan really offered us unique days, especially in the southern part from Murghab to Korogh and back along the famous M41. A ring circuit of about 1000 km along one of the highest roads in the world, crossing arid landscape, sometimes miraculously cultivated along the famous Panji River that divides Tajikistan and Afghanistan. In This section pay attention, the road is bad: a mix of gravel, sand, mud and sweat 😉.
Back to Kyrgyzstan there is still an area to be discovered, the one on the northeast side close to Uzbekistan. We reach Toktogul lake after 365 km on asphalt road along dams and turquoise blue lakes before returning through the last mountain pass to Bishkek.

Why to go? For breathtaking landscapes, for the hospitality of local people, for the white roads and the countless curves, because going to Pamir means crossing a piece of history, to return for a while to an authentic past.
It's not a trip for everyone: you definitely need a bit of experience in motorcycles, a lot of concentration along the road, in the cities people drive randomly, some vehicles have the steering wheel on the right and others on the left, better to be organized in case of any eventuality. Mobiles doesn't work many times, there is no power, gasoline is not always available .... what about a mechanic! 😉 For the rest.... go and have fun !!
 
 
 
 
  POINTS OF INTEREST: